Saudi Arabia’s GEA to Host 1st Entertainment Forum in Mideast

General Entertainment Authority logo
General Entertainment Authority logo
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Saudi Arabia’s GEA to Host 1st Entertainment Forum in Mideast

General Entertainment Authority logo
General Entertainment Authority logo

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA), in partnership with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), will organize the International Entertainment Forum on March 5-8, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Considered the first of its kind in the Middle East, the forum will have a number of panel sessions that will bring together international experts in the entertainment industry and will introduce its visitors to the Kingdom’s largest entertainment cities, facilities, and projects, SPA said.

An exhibition will be organized on the sidelines of the forum for local and global companies specialized in show business. The exhibition will provide unique networking opportunities and exchange of expertise for participating international investors.

The forum, where IAAPA will be participating for the first time in the Middle East since its establishment in 2018, also aims at exploring the latest innovations in the entertainment industry and enhancing the performance of relevant initiatives, as well as introducing participants to the business and event success measurement tools and challenge solving mechanisms, SPA said.

A specialized vocational development program, presented by IAAPA’s Institute for Attractions Managers, will be organized during the forum with the aim of exchanging expertise and best practices in the entertainment industry applied by top global companies in the field.

A number of panel sessions have been organized on the Kingdom’s major projects being developed, and there will be an exhibition with accompanying pavilions where companies can display their products and services.



Hot-air balloon Strikes, Collapses Radio Tower in Albuquerque During Festival

This image made from a video provided by Curt Fargo shows a radio tower collapsing after a hot-air balloon struck it during the famous festival in Albuquerque, N.M., Oct. 11, 2024. (Curt Fargo via AP)
This image made from a video provided by Curt Fargo shows a radio tower collapsing after a hot-air balloon struck it during the famous festival in Albuquerque, N.M., Oct. 11, 2024. (Curt Fargo via AP)
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Hot-air balloon Strikes, Collapses Radio Tower in Albuquerque During Festival

This image made from a video provided by Curt Fargo shows a radio tower collapsing after a hot-air balloon struck it during the famous festival in Albuquerque, N.M., Oct. 11, 2024. (Curt Fargo via AP)
This image made from a video provided by Curt Fargo shows a radio tower collapsing after a hot-air balloon struck it during the famous festival in Albuquerque, N.M., Oct. 11, 2024. (Curt Fargo via AP)

A hot-air balloon struck and collapsed a radio tower Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the city's famous festival — the second time in 20 years that a balloon has come into contact with that tower.
There were no reports of injuries, said Kevin Carhart, a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. The balloon, which had three people on board, landed safely in a field after it struck the tower.
The tower transmits radio signal for KKOB-AM.
The Aerostar International Inc. S-57A balloon took off from a park as part of the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, said the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating.
It wasn't clear how tall the tower was. News footage of the aftermath showed no other structures in the path of the collapsed tower, The Associated Press reported.
In 2004, a balloon shaped like the face of Smokey Bear got wrapped around a radio tower during the festival, forcing the pilot and two passengers to climb most of the way down the structure. A festival spokesperson confirmed to the AP that is the same tower that a balloon struck Friday.
A balloon bumped into a power line earlier this week in Albuquerque on the festival's third day, leaving nearly 13,000 customers without power for almost an hour.
The fiesta is one of the world's most photographed events.